Here are some tips to get your gardening season off to a good start.
- When cutting potatoes to plant, get as much potato as possible with each eye and include only one or two eyes with each piece to be planted. More eyes only make smaller potatoes.
- To get a jump start on tomatoes, place clear plastic on the ground about two weeks before you want to plant - it will help warm up the soil. When you're ready to plant, remove the plastic or cut X's through which you can insert the plants. Place a cage over each plant and cover it with a plastic bag, leaving a hole in the top for air circulation. The bags will add warmth and protect the plants from cold, drying winds.
- To mark seed beds, place empty seed packets in snack-size zipper bags and attach them to a stick to mark your row or planting area.
- To protect young tree trunks from mowers and weedeaters, cut the top and bottom from a plastic two-liter soda bottle, and slit the side of the bottle. The plastic will curl around the tree trunk and protect it.
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